Page:A "Bawl" for American Cricket.djvu/77

 armor of that great office, he is located ten to fifteen feet behind the batsman, thereby becoming a fielder; with the tremendioustremendous [sic] consequence that first-class wicket keeping is rarely seen in America. But we have many aggressive batters, who settle down into first-rate bats when in the presence of a standard wicket keeper. We say most of them, advisedly, for a star will shine, wicket keeper, or no wicket keeper. The true aggressive batsman is a combination of cause and effect which no amount of ambition can even hope to imitate. Brain, guiding muscle, with discipline resulting from long and patient training. He can take almost any liberty with the bowler, he can play inside or outside his crease, for the dangerous ball never reaches the wicket keeper. But it must be remembered that he is a star. He is the perfect batsman referred to on several occasions, who hits every ball which does not threaten his wicket, and many that do. His powerful physique, eagle eye, and energetic mind have given him a place beyond his companions. That instinctive knowledge of the presence of a man immediately behind him who will down his wicket with a smile of satisfaction, must be forever present in the mind of the batter. American cricketers may ignore him, but when America meets her English competitor and hopes for the like convenient ignorance, she is sure to have her pride injured.

A match is never lost 'till it is won, and the unexpected may at any time happen, which is a great charm in the game. The disappointment which follows the fall of wicket after wicket, simply because the reliable bat has had the misfortune to be bowled, is not easily described, but we have experienced the keenest anguish